Photo Credit: USA Basketball
In a career filled with countless accolades and memorable moments, Stephen Curry has added another significant chapter by teaming up with LeBron James for Team USA. As the 2024 Paris Olympics approach, Curry has shared his thoughts on what it’s like to play alongside his long-time rival and now teammate, LeBron James.
For over a decade, Curry and James have been at the forefront of NBA battles, often finding themselves on opposite sides of the court. Their rivalry has been marked by intense competition, with both players pushing each other to new heights. Curry, known for his sharpshooting and innovative play, and James, celebrated for his versatility and leadership, have faced off in numerous high-stakes games, including four consecutive NBA Finals from 2015 to 2018.
Now, as teammates for Team USA, Curry and James are experiencing a different dynamic. Curry recently opened up about this unique opportunity, describing it as “exactly how I imagined it.”
“Playing with LeBron is exactly how I imagined it. He understands the game at such a high level. He’s an all-time great. You get guys that know how to play on the court; usually good things happen.”
He emphasized the mutual respect and admiration that has always existed between them, despite their fierce on-court battles.
“In the Finals, that brings out the ‘healthy animosity’ of somebody standing in your way of a goal, and you know you’re gonna have some bad blood out there. But through it all, like I’m a firm believer you can be competitive, you can have that killer instinct and see blood on the other side, but still have the utmost respect for who you’re playing against,” Curry said.
Playing together for Team USA has allowed Curry and James to build a new level of chemistry. Curry highlighted how this experience has enabled them to understand each other better, both as players and as individuals.
“There’s still that competition, but I can fully enjoy this experience and get to know him at a much deeper level as teammates,” Curry explained. “I think that’s what we both deserve at this stage of our career. It’s pretty dope”.
Both Curry and James are focused on a shared goal: winning the gold medal for Team USA. This collaboration is not just about personal achievements but about contributing to the team’s success. Curry expressed his excitement about playing with such a talented group of players, including James, Kevin Durant, and other NBA stars.
“It’s a lot of fun. He’s in his 22nd year, I’m in my 16th year, and we still have the juice left to still compete. I know we both wanted this experience, and this is a big part of representing the USA with this specific team just because we’ve never played together and we want to show the world we can win at the highest level,
Like all the guys on our team, everyone is here for a reason, trying to win, trying to bring our best selves to what we’re doing”.
As the Olympics draw nearer, the basketball world eagerly anticipates seeing Curry and James in action together. Their partnership on Team USA is a testament to their enduring excellence and adaptability. For fans, it’s a rare and thrilling opportunity to witness two of the greatest players of their generation joining forces on the international stage.
